Slipknot- "All Hope is Gone"
Brent Busby
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: The Edge
During the recording of their new album "All Hope is Gone," Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor told interviewers that they were recording 30 tracks and that this would be some of the band's most experimental work yet. Taylor must have been referring to the 19 songs that didn't make the album, because the remaining 11 tracks that did make the cut pick up right where the band left off in 2004. Despite the album not being a great departure from the sound of Slipknot's last album, "Volume 3: (The Subliminal Verses)," the nine Iowa natives have managed to put together a solid collection of tracks that has something for every Slipknot fan.
After the introductory track, the album takes off with its first song, "Gematria (The Killing Name)." Lightning fast bass drums pound in the background, with heavy guitar riffs and screeching solos, all topped off with Taylor as he growls the lyrics: "My generation will go down as the architects of contemporary disgust." Any signs that the band has mellowed out are put to rest as the song crashes to a close.
Taylor is known for his great screams, but he also has an amazing singing voice as well. Songs such as "Dead Memories" and "Vendetta" showcase Taylor's voice without compromising any of the band's aggressive nature. Even the first single, "Psychosocial," has Taylor mixing his two vocal styles.
"Snuff" slows things down a bit and adds some acoustic guitars in the mix, but it really acts as a chance for fans to catch their breath.
"All Hope is Gone" also shows just how far the band has come. Having a band with nine members and not sounding cluttered is quite a feat, as everyone is in sync and knows their place (a problem the band's first few albums seemed to suffer from).
While "All Hope is Gone" isn't the band's best work, it is still a solid album and definitely one of the year's strongest metal albums.
After the introductory track, the album takes off with its first song, "Gematria (The Killing Name)." Lightning fast bass drums pound in the background, with heavy guitar riffs and screeching solos, all topped off with Taylor as he growls the lyrics: "My generation will go down as the architects of contemporary disgust." Any signs that the band has mellowed out are put to rest as the song crashes to a close.
Taylor is known for his great screams, but he also has an amazing singing voice as well. Songs such as "Dead Memories" and "Vendetta" showcase Taylor's voice without compromising any of the band's aggressive nature. Even the first single, "Psychosocial," has Taylor mixing his two vocal styles.
"Snuff" slows things down a bit and adds some acoustic guitars in the mix, but it really acts as a chance for fans to catch their breath.
"All Hope is Gone" also shows just how far the band has come. Having a band with nine members and not sounding cluttered is quite a feat, as everyone is in sync and knows their place (a problem the band's first few albums seemed to suffer from).
While "All Hope is Gone" isn't the band's best work, it is still a solid album and definitely one of the year's strongest metal albums.
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